Shock absorbing buckle

ABSTRACT

A buckle has a strap attaching structure which has at least one shock absorbing flexible portion attached to the strap attaching structure. The shock absorbing flexible portion can be a flexible fin, which extends longitudinally along the strap attaching structure. The free end of the fin extends away from the strap attaching structure. The strap is wrapped around the strap attaching structure and the flexible portion. When a force is exerted against the strap attaching structure by pulling on the strap, the strap presses against the flexible portion and causes it to bend, thus decelerating the load caused by the strap and absorbing the initial force on the buckle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a buckle that absorbs forces applied to it by straps, when the straps are pulled. In particular, the invention relates to a buckle having flexible fins located on its strap retaining bars. The fins flex to absorb forces applied to the shock absorbing bars by straps that are attached to the bars.

2. The Prior Art

In many two-piece buckles having strap-attaching bars, the straps can exert excessive pressure on the bars, especially when they are pulled suddenly or with great force. This can cause the strap attaching bars to break, or can otherwise damage the buckle. In addition, sudden forces on the buckle can be uncomfortable for the user, if the buckle is mounted on the user's body or on a bag that the user is carrying.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a buckle that can absorb sudden forces exerted by the straps, to protect the buckle and to increase the comfort of the user.

These and other objects are accomplished by a buckle having a strap attaching structure which has at least one shock absorbing flexible portion attached to the strap attaching structure. The shock absorbing flexible portion preferably comprises a flexible fin, which extends longitudinally along the strap attaching structure. The free end of the fin extends away from the strap attaching structure. The strap is wrapped around the strap attaching structure and the flexible portion. When a force is exerted against the strap attaching structure by pulling on the strap, the strap presses against the flexible portion and causes it to bend, thus decelerating the load caused by the strap and absorbing the initial force on the buckle.

The flexible portion could consist of a single fin extending along the length of the strap attaching structure, which is usually a bar, or there can be several fins placed alongside each other. The fins could have any suitable shape, such a straight or bow shaped. Other shapes could also be envisioned. Other types of flexible structures could be used as well.

The buckle can be a two-piece buckle, comprising a male portion and a female portion with the male portion having locking arms that insert into locking slots in the female portion, i.e., a side-release type buckle. Both the male and female portions can have strap attaching structures with flexible shock absorbing portions. In arrangements where the strap attaching structure comprises two adjacent bars, the flexible portion is usually attached to the bar that pinches the two parts of the strap together, rather than the bar around which the strap is wrapped.

The strap attaching structure could also be made flexible in order to absorb further shock. For example, the strap attaching structure could be a ring-like structure at the free end of the buckle. The end of the ring forms a bow-shaped strap-attaching bar, to which the flexible portion may be attached. The ring like structure is also flexible, so that the ring itself can deform to absorb some of the shock caused by the strap pulling on the buckle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a two-piece buckle with straps threaded therethrough;

FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the buckle of FIG. 1, with the straps in a relaxed position;

FIG. 3 shows the view of FIG. 2 with the straps in a stressed position;

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the male and female portions of the buckle of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of section V of FIG. 4, showing the shock absorbing portion of the male portion of the buckle; and

FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of section VI of FIG. 4, showing the shock absorbing portion of the female portion of the buckle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 4 show one embodiment of the buckle 10 according to the invention. Buckle 10 has a male portion 20 and female portion 30. Male portion 20 has two locking legs 21, 22, that snap into locking slots 31, 32, of female portion 30 when male portion 20 is inserted into opening 37 of female portion 30. Male portion 20 also has a center leg 28, shown in FIG. 2, that rests inside female portion 30 when the buckle is locked. Male portion 20 has strap attaching bars 23 and 24, which allow a strap 40 to be adjustably threaded therethrough. Female portion 30 has a strap attaching ring 33, which allows a strap 50 to be permanently attached to female portion 30. As an alternative, female portion 30 could have two strap attaching bars, for adjustable strap attachment. Other arrangements could also be envisioned.

Strap attaching bar 24 has a flexible shock absorbing fin 25 connected longitudinally along its inside face. Fin 25 flexes when force is applied to strap 40 in a direction away from buckle 10. This flexing absorbs some of the initial force of strap 40, and makes it more comfortable to the user, and helps prevent breakage of buckle 10. Ring 33 of female portion 30 has a strap attaching surface 34, which has a flexible fin 35, which also flexes under force from strap 50. In addition, ring 33 is also flexible and can deform to absorb some of the shock created by tension on strap 50.

The flexing of flexible fins 25 and 35 due to the forces of straps 40 and 50 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 2, straps 40 and 50 are in a relaxed position, and the fins 25 and 35 are in their original resting position. In FIG. 3, force is applied to straps 40 and 50, which presses against fins 25 and 35, and causes fins 25 and 35 to flex upward. This flexing motion absorbs some of the initial shock of the force.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show enlarged sections of fins 25 and 35. As shown in FIG. 5, fin 35 extends from strap attaching bar 34, and is not attached at its sides to ring 33. This allows fin 35 to flex under force from the strap. As shown in FIG. 6, fin 25 extends from bar 24 and is not attached at its sides to male portion 20. There is a cutout 26 on each end of bar 24, which further aids in the flexing of fin 25.

Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A buckle comprising: at least one body portion; at least one strap attaching structure connected to the body portion; and at least one flexible shock absorbing portion connected to the at least one strap attaching structure.
 2. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the strap attaching structure comprises at least one transverse bar and wherein said at least one flexible shock absorbing portion comprises at least one flexible fin attached to the transverse bar and extending longitudinally along the transverse bar.
 3. The buckle according to claim 2, wherein the fin is integrally molded with the transverse bar.
 4. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the buckle has two body portions releasably connected to each other, and wherein each body portion has a strap attaching structure with a flexible shock absorbing portion attached thereto.
 5. The buckle according to claim 2, wherein the fin is disposed at an angle from the transverse bar, such that tension on a strap wrapped around the transverse bar causes the fin to flex in a direction toward the tension.
 6. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the strap attaching structure comprises a flexible ring-shaped section connected to the body, and wherein said flexible portion is connected to said ring shaped section at an area distal from said body, such that force from a strap wrapped around said ring-shaped section causes the ring-shaped section and the flexible portion to flex and absorb forces from the strap.
 7. The buckle according to claim 2, wherein the fin is connected to the buckle along a single longitudinal edge, and wherein the fin has free side edges.
 8. The buckle according to claim 4, wherein the buckle is a side-release buckle.
 9. The buckle according to claim 4, wherein the strap attaching structures comprise transverse bars connected to each of the two body portions, and wherein the flexible portions comprise flexible fins extending longitudinally along each bar.
 10. A buckle comprising: a male portion having a connecting section and at least one strap attaching bar disposed at an end opposite the connecting section; a female portion having an open body for receiving the connecting section of the male portion, said female portion having a flexible strap-retaining ring connected to an end opposite the open body; a flexible fin disposed along the strap retaining bar and along said strap retaining ring, for absorbing forces created by tension on straps connected to said ring and said bars.
 11. The buckle of claim 10, further comprising an additional strap retaining bar on said male portion, wherein a strap is threaded around said additional strap retaining bar and rests against said strap retaining bar having the fin, such that pulling on the strap causes the fin to flex and absorb forces of the strap. 